ASC'S Fraud Prevention Campaign Highlights "There's No Such Thing as a Free Lunch" When Investing

The Alberta Securities Commission offers a free lunch to Calgarians
while providing key steps to protect against investment fraud

CALGARY, March 13, 2014 /CNW/ - One in three Albertans report being
approached with a possible fraudulent investment. In conjunction with
Fraud Prevention Month in March, the Alberta Securities Commission
(ASC) has developed a campaign to educate the public with three key
steps anyone can take to decrease their chances of becoming a victim of
investment fraud: Check, protect, invest.

Earlier this month, the ASC launched Checkfirst.ca, complete with a quiz to educate Albertans about the risk for investment
fraud. In support of the initiative, the ASC will take over the Mighty
Skillet food truck near City Hall at noon today to offer Calgarians a
free sandwich and encourage them to make use of the ASC's online
resources.

"No lunch is free - including today's," says Alison Trollope, Director,
Communication and Investor Education for the ASC. "In return, we are
asking Albertans to take a few moments of their day to visit the Checkfirst.ca website and learn what they can do to help protect their financial
future by avoiding investment fraud."

The campaign encourages the public to take a three-step approach:

First, check registration of the firm or individual offering the
investment;

Second, protect their hard-earned money by asking the right questions
and understanding the potential risks involved; and

Only then should investors take the third step - to invest.

To get started, investors can visit www.checkfirst.ca. While Fraud Prevention Month runs during March, the ASC is available
year-round to educate Albertans about making informed investment
choices at www.albertasecurities.com.

About the ASC
The ASC is the regulatory agency responsible for administering the
province's securities laws. It is entrusted with fostering a fair and
efficient capital market in Alberta and with protecting investors. As
a member of the Canadian Securities Administrators, the ASC works to
improve, coordinate and harmonize the regulation of Canada's capital
markets.